Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A/B vaccine versus hepatitis B vaccine in public sexually transmitted disease clinics.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Many patients seen at U.S. sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are offered hepatitis B vaccination. Substituting hepatitis A/B vaccine would provide additional protection but increase costs.

GOAL:

The goal was to estimate the cost effectiveness of hepatitis A/B versus B vaccination for 1,000,000 public STD clinic attenders.

STUDY DESIGN:

A Markov model of hepatitis A outcomes was developed using published literature, U.S. government databases, and expert panel opinion. Added vaccination costs were compared with savings from reduced hepatitis A treatment. Net costs were compared with life-years saved and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained.

RESULTS:

Substituting hepatitis A/B vaccine would prevent 2263 overt hepatitis A infections, 292 hospitalizations, 8 premature deaths, and the loss of 281 QALYs. Net health system costs would be $20,892 per life-year saved, or $13,397 per QALY gained.

CONCLUSION:

Substituting hepatitis A/B for hepatitis B vaccine would reduce morbidity and mortality in a cost-effective manner.

• Authors: R Jake Jacobs, Allen S Meyerhoff
• Journal: Sexually transmitted diseases (Sex Transm Dis) Vol. 30 Issue 11 Pg. 859-65 (Nov 2003) ISSN: 0148-5717 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14603096 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Viral Hepatitis Vaccines

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Ambulatory Care Facilities (economics)
• Cohort Studies
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Hepatitis A (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Hepatitis B (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Models, Theoretical
• Quality-Adjusted Life Years
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• United States (epidemiology)
• Viral Hepatitis Vaccines (economics)